When Ace regained consciousness, he realised that he was alone by himself on a large and comfy bed.
Looking around, he noticed that it was already early morning. The room seemed empty with only a table and chair with a table lamp. To the edge of the room was a bookshelf with various books.
Standing up, he realised that his body actually felt lighter.
"Congratulations to the host for obtaining the origin seed of shadows."
Before Ace could even process why the system congratulated him, he received another system message within his mind.
"New system function has been unlocked, Daily Trials."
With a single notion, Ace opened up the brand new system page.
Daily Trials: Enter a separate dimension, upon completing the trail, a certain reward will be given.
Note: Rewards are improved with an increase in trial difficulty.
Difficult levels: Easy, Medium, Hard, Hell, Expert, Nightmare, Rebirth
Easy difficulty corresponds with the Martial Master realm, each increase in difficulty level will increase the difficulty of the trial by one major realm.
Curious as to how the trials would be arranged, Ace decided to give it a try since he was alone now anyways.
With a single notion, he entered the trial meant for Martial Masters.
He was in a forest, surrounding him were nothing but trees, to his waist, was a scroll that had been tied there.
Opening the scroll, it actually contained the mission he had to fulfill in this trial.
Mission: Kill the lion king that dominates the forest without harming any other forms of life even if they pose a threat to you.
Seriously? Ace couldn't help but wonder if he was meant to die in this trial.
Was he supposed to be attacked by other life forms without retaliating or the mission would be considered a fail?
"System, why don't you show your true form right now. We can talk things out, I promise not to do anything to you."
"I have no true form to begin with, but since you held malicious intentions towards me for a moment, you can enjoy the gift I have arranged for you." The system replied with a cheeky voice as the trees in the forest grew taller, the bushes were already up to his chest and he could barely see anything around him.
Mission: Defeat the true lion king of this place.
It was simple, but Ace knew that he was in deep trouble this time. With his strength, there was no way he could deal with a demon beast that's a king in the Great Martial Master realm.
Closing his eyes, he regained his composure and heightened his senses. He was paying attention to the movements of the true lion king sneaking around in the bushes. It was lurking around, waiting for a chance to pounce on its prey.
"Roar!"
Hearing the voice of the lion coming from behind him, Ace turned around abruptly and put up a defensive stance, only to feel a gust of wind coming from behind him as he evaded towards the right and got onto a tree branch swiftly.
"How the hell is this fair right now!" Ace cursed at the top of his voice as he infused his slaughter law into his sword, his sword glowing scarlet as he stared coldly into the eyes of the lion king.
Since neither side was going to back down, Ace utilised his sword wave to clear the bushes even though the lion king didn't suffer anything more than a scratch from there.
Exploring around as the lion king followed him, Ace soon found an interesting way to clear this trial.
Let's hope this works or I would really have to die to a lion of all things. Ace prayed helplessly with a sigh as he increased his speed, leaping from tree branch to tree branch as he soon arrived at a lake.
Jumping into the lake, the lion followed him unaware of the trap that laid ahead since the bushes were affecting its vision.
As the lion plunged into the water, it caused water to splash up.
Ace on the other hand was standing on the surface. Right at the moment he was about to fall into the lake, he made a spin in the air and with the tip of his sword that barely touch the ground surface, he pulled himself up as he mocked the lion with a cunning smile.
"Don't even think about leaving that lake alive, you've already offended the king of this lake in the forest. If it was a fair battle, you might win as the true king of the forest, but now that you're caught unguarded in its territory, be prepared to bear its teeth chomping down on your body."
The lion didn't understand Ace's words and attempted to swim towards the surface, only for a large crocodile to leap up and pull the lion into the water.
"Since the host has completed the mission, the rewards will be given out fairly. This time!" The system added on at the end as Ace broke out in laughter awkwardly, wondering to himself, did the shadow origin seed actually awaken a portion of the system's intelligence?
When Ace opened his eyes again, he realised that only a minute or so had passed in the real world, besides that, everything remained the same.
The next moment, the system message confirmed to him that everything that just took place wasn't a dream.
"The host has received the secret foundation manual."
Secret foundation manual: Able to double awakening speed of the foundation tower.
Current progress: Six layers
Time needed to awaken seventh layer: one month
Looking at the current progress he had, he couldn't help but thank the shadow origin seed regardless of the purpose of it embedding itself into his foundation tower.
If things progressed well, fully awakening the foundation tower was totally possible. If that's the case, all he can do right now is progress further down the path of slaughter.
"Where were you just now? Lucifer stepped into the room and asked as he pulled the chair out from underneath the table and sat down on it.
"I have been in the room this entire time." Ace replied calmly despite knowing that Lucifer knew he was missing. Seated on his bed, he gazed towards the door.
"Do you really want to leave your room right now after just spending one night to recuperate?" Lucifer changed the topic upon figuring that Ace had no intentions to tell him the truth.
Ace was about to answer Lucifer when hurried footsteps came from the corridor as a man clad in heavy armor entered the room.
"Castle Master, that man is back again to demand cultivation resources from us or…" The soldier stopped speaking immediately upon realising the presence of an outsider, held in his hand was a scroll with fresh ink that has yet to fully dry.
"Castle Master, written on this scroll are the cultivation resources he needs. But if we really give him the cultivation resources this time, then it would only be a matter of time before...the situation gets worse." The soldier handed over the scroll before stepping out of the room to return to his post.
"Wait a moment." Lucifer ordered the soldier in a peaceful tone. The soldier who received the sudden order stopped in his tracks and turned around, but he didn't question his master as he waited patiently.
"Lead the way, I would like to meet that person."
"Yes!"
The soldier then began to lead Lucifer and Ace down the long corridors carpeted with violet. The walls were painted a deep shade of blue and black, decorated by glittering star ornaments that made this place feel enchanted and natural.
"Are you really not going to tell me where you were during that short period of time in which you suddenly vanished from the room?" Slowing down his footsteps to keep some distance away from the soldier, Lucifer enveloped him and Ace in a magical barrier to prevent the soldier from eavesdropping on their conversation before asking.
"That's a secret of mine, I understand that you have your selfish intentions for grooming me, but it's a trade I'm willing to make as long as you can help me grow stronger, strong enough to steal Charlotte back from her family within four years." Ace replied coldly, but his killing intent still leaked from his body.
"Learn to control your own killing intent or it'll lead you to disastrous trouble one day." Lucifer warned as he stabilized Ace's killing intent easily.
Ace thanked Lucifer for the minor guidance as they soon arrived at what seems to be a meeting room.
Taking a seat on his personal chair, Lucifer signalled for Ace to join his soldiers at the side as a young man sat opposite to him on the other chair.
That man was young, maybe only around eighteen or nineteen years old, but the cultivation aura he was eluding exceeded even Cidd though it was faint.
"Would you mind if I kill that young fella?"